Recursion, like the author’s previous novel, is set in the contemporary world. It tells the tale of two very different people brought together by chance (and science). One is a spirited, young scientist driven by her mission of creating a device to fix her mother’s degenerative memory illness and millions of others like her. The other is a competent but miserable police officer in the New York Police Department who is well past his prime having suffered a terrible personal loss.
The story revolves around the memory chair that the scientist eventually invented. Memory and time are intricately linked, so going back in a memory means physically going back in time. As with all time-related stories, things become wildly baffling soon.
What I liked
- The relationship between memory and time is a fresh idea.
- Supporting science and apparatus are well-illustrated.
- Easy to read.
What I didn’t like
- The romantic chemistry between the two central characters feels forced.
- Certain plot intricacies could use a better explanation.
- Too long; some timelines could be skipped entirely.
- Boring and repetitive in some places.
Conclusion
After being massively impressed by Crouch’s Dark Matter, picking this up was a no-brainer. However, I was slightly disappointed in the end, perhaps due to the weight of my expectations.